Rob Gronkowski’s little brother hopes to make his own, quieter mark in New England

Patriots fullback Glenn Gronkowski carries the ball on a 10-yard reception during last Thursday's preseason game against Jacksonville. Gronkowski is hoping to stick. Associated Press/ Mary Schwalm

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — At 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, Rob Gronkowski casts a large shadow. Now, imagine being his younger brother, in the NFL and on the Patriots.

For Glenn Gronkowski, there’s no escaping that shadow, thanks to his surname. Take a look at the 24-year-old’s face and you can see the resemblance to his older Pro Bowl tight end of a brother. Take a look at his build, 6-foot-3, 234 pounds, and it’s obvious that this Gronkowski is a little a different from the other.

Although Gronkowski wouldn’t change his fun-loving family for the world, this fullback is here in New England trying to make his own name and impact on the Patriots.

“Definitely (helps), but it’s the NFL,” Gronkowski said when asked about leaning on his brother. “You’ve got to be able to succeed on your own, also, but just being surrounded by everybody else also, everyone’s here to help – the quarterbacks, (James) Develin, everyone at your position, all the coaches are just here to help you and make sure you’re getting better every day. So it’s everybody helping out.”

Following a three-year stint at Kansas State, Gronkowski went undrafted during the 2016 NFL draft, but ended up with his hometown team, the Buffalo Bills. As a rookie, he made the 53-man roster out of training camp, but was released after appearing in Buffalo’s opener. That led him to an on-again, off-again relationship with the Patriots.

Last year, Gronkowski had four stints on the Patriots’ practice squad and was released three times. He finished the year on the scout team and signed a futures contract in February.

Although his family is known for being boisterous, the youngest Gronkowski may very well be the quietest. That, along with his work ethic, has been apparent to Bill Belichick.

“Hard-working kid, quiet, a little different personality from Rob around here,” Belichick said. “But he just comes in every day, works hard, runs well, has played for us in the kicking game, some as a pass receiver, some as a fullback, so he has a little combination skills there. Just trying to develop kind of that role for himself, but he’s a hard-working kid that’s improved.

“He was kind of on and off the practice squad roster last year for the last, I don’t know, I forget how many weeks it was – eight weeks, whatever the time frame was – but this year has obviously been a lot more consistent, as you said, through the offseason program, through OTAs and through training camp. But he’s been durable, hasn’t missed a day, hasn’t missed anything. Just continues to work hard and get better.”

For Gronkowski, being in the Patriots’ offseason program has created a level of comfort he didn’t have last year. After joining the team for the first time on Oct. 1, the fullback had a crash course on the playbook and the offense. Now, he’s able to go out in practice and play with a little more ease. He said he is “100 percent” more comfortable right now than he was last year.

That was seen in last week’s preseason game when Gronkowski hauled in a 10-yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to give the Patriots their first first down of the game.

“Yeah, definitely, just being here, being around the players, getting more comfortable with everybody and just being able to learn the playbook way better,” Gronkowski said. “So it’s definitely nice being earlier and not just being thrown in in the middle of the season.”

At the moment, Gronkowski is living with his brother in Foxborough. He wouldn’t say if he thinks it’s easier or harder to be Rob Gronkowski’s brother. Instead, he’s focused on making his own mark.

Of course, the fullback position isn’t known for putting up numbers. It’s about leading the way for the running back, blocking for the quarterback and sometimes catching passes. Gronkowski hopes to show he’s more versatile than your prototypical fullback.

“I think I can do more,” Gronkowski said. “Which I think helps me – can do good on special teams, can run routes and do other stuff so I think that helps me out, too.”

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